How the story of a stolen foul ball came back into play decades down the line

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — South Jersey native Joan Michael, 89, has been a Phillies fan for 76 years — cherishing the early days of her fandom as a teenager when she listened to the games on the radio with her father. More recently, she’s used technology to her advantage and set her television to flip to the Phillies games automatically when it’s time to play ball.

Her fandom includes a love for Phillies Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, as well as former Phillies player Bill Robinson — who she got to know personally through a greenhouse and landscape business she ran for 53 years. She’s a fan of current Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, in part because he wears number 10, just like another favorite of hers, beloved former Phillie Darren Daulton.

She fondly remembers making meals she and her late husband, Mel, could enjoy while watching baseball together.

One of Michael’s most cherished moments happened at 21st and Lehigh when she was just 19 years old.

While she was attending a game at Connie Mack Stadium/Shibe Park, Ashburn was having a rough time at the plate, continuing to foul off pitch after pitch. One of the fouls ended up coming her way and landed right in her lap after hitting her in the arm. The awesome moment turned sour, though, when a man snatched the ball from her, claiming she didn’t need it because “she’s a girl.”

Decades later at her church, Michael was telling the story to a friend, who just so happened to have a direct line to Ashburn. At the time, Ashburn was a cherished Phillies broadcaster and still very much immersed in the world of the Phillies.

One day she arrived at her church organ, and there was a ball signed by Ashburn safe in a plexiglass case waiting for her.

“No one is getting that ball while I’m alive,” Michael told KYW Newsradio.

This is a story that even when something wrong happens, eventually it will be made right —  even decades down the line. Additionally, Michael is thrilled that she’s able to tell the story to KYW Newsradio 70 years later, as our Fan of the Week.

As far as this year’s team, Michael has high expectations — win the World Series.

To hear more about Michael’s fortuitous fandom, listen to the full interview with our KYW Newsradio’s Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week!